Yet another 'Bandh' has hit Mumbai, this time in the form of a nationwide protest called by the opposition party. The Bharat Bandh on September 10, 2018 has been called by the Congress party and supported by other political parties and few trade unions to protest rising prices of petrol and diesel in the country. The protests have led to shutdowns in several parts of the country

Sep 10, 2018, 17:33 IST

The strike is called off

The Bharat Bandh called by the Congress and Left on Monday against rising fuel prices and tumbling rupee evoked mixed response in the country as the opposition closed its ranks against the Modi government. The BJP dubbed the protest a failure.

The day-long shutdown affected normal life in Odisha, Karnataka, Bihar, Kerala and Tripura and triggered a mixed response in Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

But it was mostly ineffective in Mamata Banerjee-ruled West Bengal.

Shutdown enforcers resorted to blocking roads and rail tracks disrupting traffic in several parts of the country. In Bihar, a critically ill two-year-old girl died on her way to a hospital in Jehanabad town apparently due to a road blockade.

Sep 10, 2018, 17:05 IST

Congress slammed in a political slugfest over child's death

The Bharat Bandh called by the Congress and other opposition parties opened gates for a political slugfest over reports of the death of a two-year-old child in Bihar, allegedly due to the nationwide shutdown being observed on account of the rising fuel prices. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leader Ravi Shankar Prasad held the Congress responsible for the death of the child, claiming that the ambulance carrying the child was stuck in traffic, ultimately leading to the minor's death. "It is the essence of democracy that hospitals, ambulances and medicine shops are allowed to function without any hindrance. But, with the death of the two-year-old in Bihar today, an environment of fear is being created," he said. However, Jehanabad Sub-divisional Officer Paritosh Kumar, while speaking to ANI, rubbished reports of the death, and said, "The death of the child is not related to bandh or traffic jam, the relatives had left late from their home (for hospital)."

Sep 10, 2018, 17:03 IST

Fuel price hike: Rajasthan minister asks people to 'reduce expenses'

In the wake of the continuous hike in fuel prices, state minister and MLA from Rajasthan's Churu district, Rajkumar Rinwa, has appealed to people to reduce their expenses. 'The price of petrol depends on the crude oil price in the international market. The government is trying to reduce the price. There are so many states which are affected by floods; there is a lot of expenditure. People don¿t understand that the hike is due to the increase of crude oil price, so they should reduce their expenses,' Rinwa told media

Sep 10, 2018, 14:55 IST

Bharat Bandh hits normal life in Karnataka

The day-long nationwide shutdown or Bharat bandh on Monday against rising fuel prices called by the Congress affected normal life in Karnataka as public transport kept off the roads across the state. Schools and colleges were closed although state and central government offices remained open. In Bengaluru, global software firms like Infosys and Wipro functioned normally. With the ruling Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) supporting its ally Congress on the bandh, their cadres, as well as activists of the pro-Kannada organisations like Kannada Vedica Paksha (KVP), were seen forcing restaurants, shops and fuel stations to remain shut at least till 3 p.m. Many theatres, multiplexes and malls did not open for business. Bank transactions were hit. The shutdown, however, did not affect flight or train services in Bengaluru and Mysuru though passengers faced harrowing time at the airport and railway stations in the absence of buses, cabs and autos. Emergency services, including hospitals and medical shops, were exempted from the bandh. Pic/Vineet Nair

Sep 10, 2018, 14:06 IST

Congress president Rahul Gandhi alleged Monday that Narendra Modi's government has divided the nation and declared that a united opposition will defeat the BJP in the next elections. Addressing a protest rally with various opposition parties at the Ramlila grounds here, he also questioned the prime minister's silence on rising fuel prices, the Rafale jet deal and issues such as farmer suicides, atrocities against women and unemployment. Ramping up his attack against the prime minister, Gandhi said Modi in 2014 had made promises to the people of the country, youth, farmers and women, assuring them of jobs and their safety.

Sep 10, 2018, 13:13 IST

Bharat Bandh: Offices, schools and colleges open at regular time in Delhi

Offices, schools and colleges in the national capital opened at their regular time despite the 'Bharat Bandh' called by the Congress to protest against the hike in petrol and diesel prices. Heavy police deployment was made in the national capital with reserve police forces, and motorcycle patrols were put on high alert, a senior police officer said. The officer said police personnel have been deployed at petrol pumps across Delhi to ensure no untoward incident takes place. Traffic was affected in Daryaganj and around Ramlila Maidan due to the protest and commuters faced problems in reaching their destinations as the cab companies had hiked their fares. Schools and colleges also had classes on time though students experienced difficulties in finding transportation. However, a transport department official said DTC buses and cluster buses were running as usual and no reports of disruption were received so far.

Sep 10, 2018, 12:52 IST

Here's a video of the protests carried out at Andheri railway station.

Scores of opposition workers were taken into custody across Andhra Pradesh Monday as they staged protests as part of the 'Bharat Bandh'.The ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) also organised protests separately protesting the steep hike in prices of petroleum products. As a precautionary measure, the State Road Transport Corporation suspended some of its services in various districts. The protesters staged a sit-in in front of RTC depots to prevent movement of buses. Police then took them into custody. In Vijayawada, state Congress President N Raghuveera Reddy led a bullock cart rally from the party office protesting the petrol price hike. Most of the educational institutions remained closed because of the bandh. Petrol stations too remained closed. Otherwise, there has not been much of an impact due to the shutdown.

Sep 10, 2018, 11:58 IST

Shiv Sena: We want to see opposition strength on raising public issues

The Shiv Sena took a jibe at opposition parties, stating their nationwide bandh against the rising fuel prices should not look like a sudden act undertaken after waking up from a "long sleep".The BJP's bickering ally said it has been carrying the burden of opposition parties on its shoulders for long and it now wants to see where these outfits stand on pro-people issues. The Marathi daily 'Saamana' said, "The people of this country have been watching closely how inflation is rising and petrol and diesel prices are escalating. "Hopefully, the bandh should not look like the opposition has suddenly woken up from a long sleep on peoples issues and called for the bandh."

Sep 10, 2018, 11:51 IST

58 Congress activists taken into custody

Altogether 58 Congress activists were Monday taken into police custody in Jharkhand for forcibly trying to enforce the 'Bharat Bandh' called by the party, a police officer said. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Left parties in Jharkhand are supporting the Congress-sponsored 'Bharat bandh called against fuel price hike. Fifty eight Congress activists including Palamau district Congress president Jaias Ranjan Pathak were taken into custody for forcibly trying to enforce the bandh, Superintendent of Police Inderjeet Mahata said. Barring Garhwa district, normal life is not affected in Pakur, Jamshedpur, Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Lohardaga, Gumla, Ramgarh, Giridih, Latehar, Palamau, Dhanbad and other districts, according to reports.

Sep 10, 2018, 11:43 IST

Manmohan Singh slams Modi-led BJP government

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh lashed out at the Narendra Modi-led government, saying it has done a lot which is not in the interest of the nation and has now crossed all limits. He made these remarks at an opposition protest against rising fuel prices in New Delhi. Singh also urged opposition parties to shed their differences and unite to save democracy in the country.

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Rahul Gandhi and others during 'Bharat Bandh' protest against fuel price hike and depreciation of the rupee, in New Delhi. Pic/PTI

Sep 10, 2018, 11:36 IST

The 'Bharat Bandh' called by the Congress, to protest spiralling fuel prices, got off to a start in Bihar on Monday with no incidents of violence reported till 10.30 am. Reports of traffic blockades have so far come from rural areas of Patna district, Muzaffarpur, Lakhisarai and Nalanda districts, police said. Read the full story here

Sep 10, 2018, 11:23 IST

The services on the 11.04 km Versova Andheri Ghatkopar metro line were affected for some time on Monday morning at around 9.30 am after a group of MNS party workers tried to stop the train at D N Nagar metro station. The protesters also went on the railway track shouting slogans along with flags. The security personnel at the station immediately took a serious note about this and moved away from the protesters so that the services are not blocked. At around 10.29 am Mumbai Metro One tweeted, "Dear Passengers, Metro services were disrupted for a short period on account of protests by political parties. However, the issue has been resolved and services have been restored. We hope you #HaveANiceDay. #BharatBandh."

Dear Passengers, Metro services were disrupted for a short period on account of protests by political parties. However, the issue has been resolved and services have been restored. We hope you #HaveANiceDay. #BharatBandh

A united Opposition, led by Congress President Rahul Gandhi staged a foot march in New Delhi in support of a nationwide shutdown protest or 'Bharat Bandh' called by his party against rising fuel prices. The 1.8-km march was held between Rajghat and Zakir Husain College. After the end of the march, all the opposition leaders gathered at an Indian Oil petrol pump near the Ramlila Maidan where UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh joined them. Later, over 200 political leaders and supporters gathered at the ground from where Manmohan Singh and others spoke against the Central government over its failure to curb the price hike. Pic/PTI

Sep 10, 2018, 11:04 IST

Shutdown in Kerala to protest fuel price hike

A state-wide shutdown called by Kerala's ruling Left and the Congress-led opposition to protest rising fuel prices, was observed on Monday. While public vehicles remained off the roads in the state, private vehicles were seen plying in many places, while shops, markets and establishments remained shut. In Kollam, agitated Congress workers protested outside the Head Post office, demanding that it should be closed. In the state capital, the IT campus at Technopark is functioning and the ISRO units are also working as normal. There was a complete shutdown in Kasargode, the town that shares a border with Karnataka, as interstate buses kept off the roads. While the Congress workers are out on the streets, the ruling Left supporters appear to maintain a low profile and have stressed that relief operations in flood-affected areas will go on unaffected

Sep 10, 2018, 11:00 IST

A policeman puts out a fire from a tyre that was burnt on Western Express highway near Kherwadi

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh Monday lashed out at the Narendra Modi-led government, saying it has done a lot which is not in the interest of the nation and has now crossed all limits. He made these remarks at an opposition protest against rising fuel prices here.

The all-India anti-fuel price hike shutdown got underway in different parts of Maharashtra with all parties, barring the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena, joining in wholeheartedly.

Maharashtra Congress President Ashok Chavan and Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam led thousands of activists to stage a noisy protest outside the Andheri station bus depot, and later they got down on the railway tracks, shouting anti-government slogans.

Photos at Andheri Railway station

Sep 10, 2018, 10:05 IST

The Karnataka government has declared a public holiday today for schools and colleges in Bengaluru as a precautionary. However, the functioning of the public transport system, cinema theatres, multiplexes among others are expected to be hit. Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation staff and workers' federation have extended their support to the bandh. The Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents Association, however, is only giving moral support. Pic/Vineet Nair

Sep 10, 2018, 10:03 IST

Fuel prices continue to hike

Fuel prices continued its northward march on Monday with petrol and diesel being sold at Rs 80.73 and Rs 72.83 per litre in the national capital. This comes at a time when around 21 Opposition parties, led by Congress, are witnessing 'Bharat Bandh' against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Government at the Centre.

Sep 10, 2018, 09:59 IST

BJD neither opposing nor supporting bandh called by Congress

The ruling Biju Janata Dal in Odisha Sunday said it is neither opposing nor supporting the 'Bharat Bandh' called by the Congress on Monday to protest the hike in fuel prices. BJD spokesman Samir Ranjan Das "We are not supporting nor opposing the Bharat Bandh." He, however, said the state government has already announced holiday of schools on Monday keeping in view the safety of children.

Sep 10, 2018, 09:56 IST

Bharat Bandh: Security heightened in Pune

Security was heightened in various parts of Pune in view of the Bharat Bandh announced by the Congress Party against the hike in prices of petrol and diesel under the present dispensation. Commissioner Of Police, Pune City, Dr Venkatesham K. told ANI, "One SPRF company and 6000 police officials have been deployed in the city to prevent any unlawful action. Whoever tries to forcefully close the market will need to face the action by Pune Police." He also took to his Twitter handle to inform about the extra deployment of forces across the city. He also wrote that firm action will be taken against miscreants who disobey the law.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday reached Rajghat to participate in the nationwide shutdown protest or 'Bharat Bandh' called by the party against rising fuel prices. This was Gandhi's first public appearance since he returned from Kailash Mansarovar yatra. He had embarked on the yatra on August 31. He paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial before joining other opposition leaders including Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ashok Gehlot in the protest. The protest has been called by Congress and Left parties against the spiralling cost of petrol and diesel which have reached record levels. It is being supported by several opposition parties.

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